Author: Flenn Cox

Every one of us wants to go on a vacation even just once in a while just to unwind or relax from work, school, or chores. There are many things to consider when planning to travel. We should think about where to go, where to eat, how to get there, where to rife and where to stay. Focusing on where to stay, today we are going to talk about hotels and the other things that we have to know about it.

Bay Hotel Singapore is a boutique hotel that overlooks Mount Faber, and is within vicinity to Harbourfront, Vivocity. It has a cosmopolitan feel with an idyllic charm and is suitable for any traveler looking for a comfortable stay in Singapore. You should check their site out if you are looking for a good 4 star hotel in Singapore.

When planning your travel you will come to the decision of what kind of accommodation you need? In this post I will give you some tips and advice on the things you should think about before booking.

How long will you be staying?

If you are intending to stay for a long time at a destination, then considering staying in an apartment, such as what’s available on Airbnb. Apartments tend to have kitchens, washing machines and almost anything you need for a long stay. You will probably be able to get preferential rates for longer stays too. If you are only staying for a short period of time then consider staying at a hotel or hostel.

Suggestion: Long stay: apartment / Short stay: hotel or hostel Read more here.

There are questions and answers provided above and these are the things that we have to consider when choosing the right accommodation for your trip. One thing to consider that is mentioned above is the number of people who would be staying. In addition, Talia Avakian will give us 22 things that you should definitely do the next time you book a hotel if you want to score the best deals.

22 things you should definitely do the next time you book a hotel if you want to score the best deals

You don’t have to overpay for a hotel room.

There are tricks and tips you can use to find the best room rates so you can enjoy your trip guilt-free.

We spoke to Jeanette Pavini, a savings expert at Coupons.com, Josh Belkin, the vice president and general manager of Hotels.com’s North America branch, Cheryl Rosner, the CEO of Stayful, and Ivy Chou, the content and marketing director for DealsPlus.com, to get their best tips for booking a room.

From when to book to how to find hidden discounts, this list can save you bundles the next time you plan to stay at a hotel. Read more here.

Consider doing the tips mentioned above and there is a big chance that you will be ending up having the best deals for your accommodation. For more tips and additional pieces of information, ELISABETH LEAMY will tell us how we could score luxury hotel rooms for less. Let us read about it in her article below.

How to Score Luxury Hotel Rooms for Less

Whether you’re a procrastinator arranging a last-minute spring break or a planner meticulously mapping out a summer vacation, I’ve got some hotel booking news that will make your day. The magazine Consumers’ Checkbook has been studying online travel booking services and says it has figured out THE strategy for scoring rock bottom rates on luxury hotel rooms. The answer? Priceline.

But you can’t just blindly go to the site and pull this off. There’s a technique to it. Checkbook’s editors have spent years experimenting and now say they’re ready to reveal their “system.” And I’m ready to reveal what they’ve revealed!

“These deals aren’t flukes,” Checkbook said. “We regularly shop for hotel rooms in dozens of major US cities at different times of the year and almost always get steeply discounted rates from Priceline.” One example: Checkbook scored a room at the stylish Edgewater in Seattle for $77 on Priceline, when the hotel’s own site was advertising the same room for $143. Read more here.

If you are too late in booking a hotel for some reasons, you should not worry because there are tips provided above so that you could still book hotel rooms for less. There is no 100% that you could book for less but there is no harm in trying. Travelling and going on a vacation is not easy and it would really cost money that is why as much as possible, travellers and vacationists would want to spend less for accommodation. Follow the tips above and you could actually spend less.

Every country composes of people of different kinds of religion with different beliefs and customs. In a country like Singapore, our Muslim brothers and sisters make up a big number of the entire population. If you also notice, they have big names when it comes to business. They own some of the most successful businesses, some of the biggest buildings, and even some of the most beautiful hotels and restaurants. That is why it is undeniable that our Muslims are really smart and good when it comes to business. However, we should not worry because we could be like them too.

Musliminc’s article below will share to us five great Halal business ideas that could inspire us.

5 Great Halal Business Ideas: They Will Inspire You Like They Did Me!

The Muslim consumer market undeniably presents the next big thing for investors at 1.8 billion and growing, it only makes sense that big business will soon find itself catering for the Muslim Market. The Halal market alone is estimated at USD 2.1 trillion a year and considering the expected population growth in Muslim countries, it will increase by 500 billion a year.

However, Islam teaches us the virtues of unity and how it gives our ummah strength. If you were to ask who is the most united community in the world. You may be surprised to find, it’s 300 Leverage Muslims. Yes, you heard it right. There are 300 Muslims who got together and launched a business collectively and that’s our No.1 recommendation for a halal business today. Read more here.

Unity could really bring you into something big and it is one of the most admirable things about Muslims. No wonder, a lot of them are already really successful right now. As said earlier, they own some of the most beautiful restaurants you could see. In Singapore, you could find a great number of Halal restaurants which are really beautiful. Adila Shahrin will tell us about them through the article below.

20 Best Halal Restaurants in Singapore

It’s not that difficult to find a Halal restaurant in Singapore. We’re surrounded by Halal outlets at almost every nook and cranny of Singapore but it certainly was difficult trying to figure out which restaurants would make it into our list of 20 Best Halal Restaurants in Singapore.

This list of restaurants has got me drooling just thinking about them. So beware! If you’ve not had your lunch or dinner, reading this article might just make your stomach pangs worse. With that said, you can always visit these restaurants to satisfy your hunger.

Ayam Penyet Ria

Ayam Penyet Ria is hands-down my favourite ayam penyet restaurant. Whenever I’m in town, I try my best to visit this place for lunch or dinner because I know I’ll regret it if I don’t. Just thinking about it makes me drool. Urgh, bring me there now please!!! Read more here.

Oh no! Just seeing those pictures of food would really make you hungry and make you want to taste even just one of them. But wait! There’s more! Nafeesa Saini will show us more Halal restaurants in Singapore. Now be prepared to feel hungrier and crave more for a special and different kind of cuisine.

Halal restaurants and cafes in Singapore: Your ultimate guide

Thankfully for our Muslim friends, the halal scene in Singapore just keeps getting better and better. Step inside for the ultimate guide to the best halal restaurants and cafe in the city The great thing about living in Singapore is its diversity, and we’re not just talking about its people. Virtually any type of cuisine is found here – whether you’re nursing a craving for French food or sticking to a vegetarian diet, chances are you’ll find it in the Little Red Dot. Case in point? Halal food. In recent years, the city’s seen a huge surge in the Halal scene, with cafes popping up all over town with great grub, coffees and pastries in tow. Keep reading for a list of our top Halal restaurants and cafes in Singapore for Muslim foodies.

Restaurants

The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens

Recently certified halal, The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens has quickly climbed up the ranks as a popular spot for special occasions. Hidden in the Ginger garden of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Halia’s proximity to the city and tranquil setting makes it the perfect escape from the city. Read more here.

Wow! Now that we have read everything above, we already have an idea of where to head to when we want to taste something new and delicious. Those restaurants would really make you want to go to Singapore. It just proves that Singapore does not just have beautiful destinations and tourist attractions; they also have great food, specifically Halal food. So if you ever got a chance to visit Singapore, never miss the chance to visit and try the food of even just one of the restaurants mentioned above.

The question always arises when you have to go on a holiday, what kind of hotel do you choose. Some may prefer a 4 star hotel in singapore and above . It depends on how much you value the small luxuries of life. To you maybe you do not need that private lap pool in your room that the hotel is advertising but to someone else that is essential as it will allow them to take a dip in the water anytime they want.

There is always two sides of the argument when it comes to the value of a good hotel experience. However, one thing is for sure that if the hotel that you stay at does not live up to your expectation it can ruin the whole vacation experience which is more disheartening than spending a little more money and staying in a better hotel.

Luxury living on a budget

When you think of a luxury hotel you do not always have to book the presidential room. Most hotels have rooms that can cater to most budgets and all you have to do is look and you will find a room that can suit your needs. Most hotels also have various different packages and add ons that you dont usually need especially if you choose to live there long term. You just have to do a bit of research and try and find the most convenient one for you.

Value of Luxury

The fact that you are reading this on a smartphone or a laptop means that you do value the importance of certain luxuries. So why not extend that to the place that you have to stay. You just need to stay at a luxury hotel once to realize how good the experience is and then you will never really even consider anywhere else. If you give more importance to the overall experience than the amount of money you will be spending than a luxury hotel is the place for you.

Quality of the service

Most luxury hotels hire only those who have extensive experience in the hospitality industry and are usually well trained and have studied hospitality. This is directly related to the experience that you have with regards to service in the hotel you choose. Even the food that you will get in a luxury hotel will be better as it will be made by a world class chef who has years of training and experience and knows what you need.

Customized experience

Being able to order room service every day is definitely a perk of living in a hotel however if that is not really something that fits into your budget or if you like to cook yourself you can also get rooms that have a kitchenette that allows you to cook your own food. Along with the kitchenette, there are also hotels that provide you with washers and dryers in the room so that you do not have to pay any laundry service charges and also have portable or in-built dishwashers to help you clean up.

Location is key

Most luxury hotels will be found in prime locations as opposed to other hotels that will be located in far off locations and you will need to spend time and money to travel to the places of your choice. Taking this into consideration it is sometimes more economical to choose to stay at a luxury hotel in the heart of the region rather than spend the money traveling.

Although at the end of the day the choice is yours, but living in a luxury hotel definitely has its perks especially if you have been saving up to treat yourself during your vacation.

Groups of musicians who perform together in front of an audience are live bands. They perform at various events like wedding receptions, corporate parties, Christmas parties, private parties, festivals, clubs, fundraiser dance parties and entertainment events for sports displays. When the music needs to be soulful and enjoyable, live bands are the way to go.

Having a wedding live band allows you to enjoy ranges from rock to country music. From love songs to dance tracks can be enjoyed. Since every detail of a wedding is so meticulously planned that the music should definitely rise to the expectations or better yet exceed them. A live band is always a preferred choice when it comes to making a personal connection to music with such enthusiasm and active involvement on the part of the musicians.

It is important to find out the instruments that are being used to play the song list that you provide them. The location can have an impact on the music. If the venue is an open ground, the instruments and the vocals have to be loud enough to be pleasantly audible to all. If it is a small, closed space, the amplifier and speakers need to be adjusted to be melodious to the crowd and not be too noisy. There are many live bands that perform for weddings and other such joyful occasions. Though time investment in finding the right live band for you may seem inconvenient and unnecessary but it will definitely pay off in the results that you see on your big day.

The mistake that couples make as there are many decisions and arrangements to be made for a wedding is that they leave the music for the end. This causes last minute panic of getting a well-established and experienced live band. Usually, the best bands in that city would be booked in advance by others, so last minute bookings are difficult to accommodate. Sometimes, this results in calling in a DJ without communicating the requirements for the music.

Brass instruments are sounds made by sympathetic vibrations of air produced by the force of the player’s lips. It is blown into the tubular hollow part of the musical instrument. There are various types of brass instruments which are differentiated on the basis of the properties like:-

a) Valved Brass Instruments which use a set of valves that changes the overall length of the instrument like the Tuba.

b) Slide Brass Instruments require a slide to change the length of the musical instrument, like sackbut, trombone, and the bazooka.

c) Natural Brass Instruments play notes on the instrument like the horn and trumpet.

d) Fingered or Keyed Brass Instrument has holes on the instrument which when covered produces music. Like the keyed trumpet and the keyed bugle.

Other aspects that differentiate the instruments are geometrically (taper and diameter of the bore, cylindrical and conical bore and whole tube and half tube instruments)

2) Woodwind instruments

Woodwind instruments are within the general type of wind instruments. The basic bifurcation is flute and reed instruments.

a) The Flute is a cylindrical tube with holes made at specific points on the body of the instrument. The player blows into this instrument and uses his fingers to cover some holes to create sound. Transverse flute, organ pipe, panpipe, and ocarina are a few known flutes.

b) Reed instruments require air that is blown into the mouthpiece which causes the reeds to vibrate.

They are further segregated by single reed and double reed, saxophone, clarinet, bagpipes, and harmonica. The accordion is a free-reed aerophone instrument.

3) String-Based Instruments

a) Bass produces low-pitched tones either by a bow (a stick with hair to horizontally move on the strings) or by hand.

b) Guitar creates medium-ranged sounds when the strings are struck by a plectrum or fingers which create a sound.

c) Violin produces high-pitch tones by using a bow.

4) Piano

The piano is one of the key instruments in the jazz world. It can be used alone or can be collaborated with any other jazz instrument known. The piano has been the base for the majority of jazz tracks that are known to mankind. The melody and harmony made improve the quality of music. Even if other instruments are the main focus of the soundtrack, yet the piano finds itself at least in the background as a supporting rhythm. Orchestras are incomplete without the presence of a pianist.

The term upholstery is used for furnishings and furniture and provides strength and beauty to what would otherwise be an unattractive piece of furniture. Upholstery has become an important part of aesthetics and there are many ways in which it can be used to make a major difference in terms of looks.

It is interesting, then, to know about the history of upholstery and what shaped up the industry into what it is today.

The evolution of upholstery

The upholstery that we see around us was mostly developed in the Victorian period. However, before 19th century, upholstery was first used in ancient Egypt. The pharos tombs were filled with luxurious and comfortable furnishings made from patterned fabrics that were made to last for centuries.

After the Egyptian era, upholstery design and art were used for both beauty and function. The fabrics were used as insulators and prevented heat from escaping the rooms and buildings. The tapestries were also used on chairs as added comfort and beauty. Before 17th century, upholstery was restricted to chairs and other small furniture.

During the middle ages, upholstery became popular and were used as bedsteads and settees. The upholsteries were found to be comfortable and were added on to other furniture as well.

Popularity of upholstery

As the popularity of upholstery grew, the first guild was established in 1626. There were many advancements in upholstery art during that time period and it made it easier to control design and distribution. Upholstered items were produced in all shapes and sizes and were marketed as modern pieces of furniture.

The popularity kept growing all the way from the 18th century to the 19th century. Innovations like chemical dyes, machine-woven fabric and steel coil springs inside seats revolutionized the concept of upholstery. New designs and patterns emerged and gave a new definition to furniture.

20th century upholstery drew inspiration from its predecessors and used other types of fabrics and designs. Today the trend is bit different and focus more on elegance rather than design. People have become more conscious of their surrounding and are choosing upholstery wisely.

Conclusion

Upholstery has been used since the time of ancient Egypt. However, it did not receive much recognition till the 18th century when new inventions and facilities made it easier to produce attractive and sturdy designs. Upholstery has since become an important aspect of every room or space and is chosen according to its needs. For all your upholstery singapore needs, get in touch with the experts at Soft Home.

Upholstery is an important part of home aesthetics because it enhances the beauty of a home. A room where furniture pieces are decorated in the correct manner is pleasing to the eyes and gives a positive vibe. However, choosing the right upholstery singapore can be a tough task and having an understanding of the different type of fabric and design helps a lot.

Fabric

Cotton: One of the most common fabrics found in the clothing industry, cotton is a great material for furniture covers. The material can be blended with other fabrics like linen, polyester or nylon for enhanced texture and strength.

Leather: Who can ignore leather when it is present in the room? Not only does the material look classy, it adds the durability factor to the furniture as well. Leather upholstery can be found in different variants like full-grain, corrected-grain, top-grain, split-grain and faux.

Jute: Jute is a natural fiber produced primarily in India and Bangladesh. It has always been used for making ropes and mats but for few years now, the fiber has been used as an upholstery material. It looks great on modern rustic accent pieces and goes well with other materials like leather or wood.

Linen: Line is a strong and resilient material that is naturally produced from flax. The fabric is soft, smooth and lustrous. It can be used for many months without the slightest signs of wear or tear. Linen is usually used with other material on chairs to provide a great look.

Polyester: An excellent synthetic fabric, polyester has often been as a material to protect other material from damage. It works best with cotton and wool and is resistant to wrinkling or abrasion.

Velvet: Velvet is a soft fabric that looks lustrous and smooth. It is usually used for its texture and comfort.

Decoration

Embossing: An embossing is a decorative pattern done on leather and synthetic fabrics through the use of engraved calendaring rollers.

Piping: Piping, as the name suggests, uses a narrow tube to trim upholstery. The piping trim provides different patterns of decoration along with protection against wear.

Tufting: In the process of tufting, a cluster of threads is used to compress and secure the padding. The fabric is sewn into different designs like diamonds, rectangles or squares.

Conclusion

Different materials can be stitched into different designs as part of upholstery aesthetics. Different combinations can be used to create beautiful designs.

We had a great time at the opening reception of the Spindleworks exhibit at the Harlow Gallery! We may have gone overboard with the amount of food but it there’s one thing that we know about, besides art, it’s food!

And there was a really great turnout for the exhibit; some very friendly new faces, too. And some of the artists were able to make it down and brighten up the evening even more!

The show is open through Saturday February 26th and the Harlow Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12-6pm. 16- Water St in Hallowell.

Exhibition on View: February 16-26, 2011 – free and open to the public

In February the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell will present Mosaic, an exhibition featuring work by the artists of Spindleworks. Located in Brunswick, Maine, Spindleworks is an art center providing studio and gallery space to 41 artists. The program is one of many arms of Independence Association, an agency whose mission is to assist children and adults with disabilities in achieving full and inclusive lives in their chosen community.Harlow Gallery, 160 Water St, Hallowell, ME

Here’s another Sneak Peak installment for the Mosaic: Spindleworks at the Harlow Gallery exhibition opening next week! I hope you enjoy these pieces as much as I do. Come to the opening reception and find me (Jamie) – I’d love to hear what pieces strike you the most. And hopefully you’ll go home with some fabulous artwork, too.

Exhibition on View: February 16-26, 2011 – free and open to the public

In February the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell will present Mosaic, an exhibition featuring work by the artists of Spindleworks. Located in Brunswick, Maine, Spindleworks is an art center providing studio and gallery space to 41 artists. The program is one of many arms of Independence Association, an agency whose mission is to assist children and adults with disabilities in achieving full and inclusive lives in their chosen community.Harlow Gallery, 160 Water St, Hallowell, ME